* Astronomy

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RE: Chang'e Lunar Satellite

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China TV`s:China launches first lunar probe "Chang'e" 24/10/07

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Chinese scientists have successfully activated the first probing equipment on the Chang'e-1 lunar orbiter on Thursday evening to start exploring the space environment between earth and moon.
The high-energy solar particle detector, which was positioned on board the satellite with seven other probing facilities, will collect data on the space expanse between 40,000 and 400,000 kilometres from earth, according to scientists at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre (BACC).
The information it gathers will enable scientists to learn about the environment and ensure the safety of future spacecrafts.
The 2,300-kg satellite has just completed its first orbital transfer around 5:57 p.m. Thursday afternoon, a step further in its 380,000-km journey to the moon.
Chang'e-1 needs to conduct ten orbit manoeuvres during its flight, and is expected to enter earth-moon transfer orbit on Oct.31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on Nov. 5.

Source Xinhua

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China's lunar probe has completed its first orbital transfer

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Change-1 has four mission goals to accomplish. The first is to make three-dimensional images of many lunar landforms and outline maps of major lunar geological structures. This mapping will include the first detailed images taken of some regions near the lunar poles.
Change-1 is also designed to analyse the abundance of up to 14 chemical elements and their distribution across the lunar surface. Thirdly it will measure the depth of the lunar soil and lastly it will explore the space weather between the Earth and the Moon.
The spacecraft is large, weighing in at 2350 kg and it will operate from a low, circular lunar orbit, just 200 km above the surface of the Moon. From here, it will perform its science mission for a full year.

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TLE Data

Change 1
1 32274U 07051A   07297.51091475 -.00000044  00000-0  00000+0 0    98
2 32274 030.9453 169.3122 7926096 184.3617 041.8974 01.53091942    04

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China announced the success of the blast-off of the country's first moon mission, the Long March 3A and the satellite Chang'e, as the craft proved to be in good condition.
The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre declared the success at 7:12pm, just over an hour after the satellite blasted off in south-western China's Sichuan Province.

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According to the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre (BACC) the Chang'e-1 moon orbiter entered into a 16-hour, 205 km perigee and 50,930 km apogee, orbit.
The 2,300-kg satellite is expected to enter earth-moon transfer orbit on Oct. 31 and enter Moon orbit on Nov. 5.

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China launched first Moon orbiter

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Launch (Windows meda player)

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The Chang'e One orbiter lifted off from the southwestern province of Sichuan at 10:05 GMT.
The spaceprobe will spend more than a year observing the lunar surface in preparation for an unmanned moon vehicle planned for 2012 followed by a manned landing.

"We're convinced of our ability to successfully realise satellite exploration of the moon, but on the other hand there is this invisible pressure and anxiety" - Ouyang Ziyuan, project's chief scientist.

China TV (live)

Credit Wan Jianmin/Xinhua